Can you tell me about the custom of taking grapes to people who are ill or in the hospital? Do you know when or why it originated? And why grapes in particular instead of other fruits?

Here in the states we tend to send flowers, I guess on the assumption it will cheer up the sickroom but when it comes right down to it that's just as arbitrary as grapes, huh?_________________Justin managed to look superior and bored and disbelieving all at once. No mean feat for a man who'd just fallen from a tree.

LOL. I just assumed it was a universal custom. Maybe hospital food is worse in the UK? You can bring flowers, but it's a bit of a faff with the nurses having to find vases and everything. And I've a vague feeling that there's something about having them on the wards at night...
I'd guess grapes both because they're a bit of a luxury, and because they're more practical than a lot of other sorts of fruits - no peeling or sticky fingers - but I don't actually know. Be interesting if someone does. I tend to bring people reading material...

As it happens, I went to visit a sick friend in hospital on Sunday and, yes, there were the ubiquitous grapes. I don't actually know the reason for grapes in particular but in thinking about it, grapes (assuming seedless variety) have no peel or stone or core to dispose of and are not big enough to require more than popping them in your mouth. Also they are full of liquid which would be considered a boon. People don't take flowers to hospital patients as these days they are frowned on because of the inevitable need to maintain and dispose of them not to mention the fact that in a shared room/ward, someone may have an allergy. I'll be interested to see if anyone else knows the reason for this custom.